Public Hearing Guidelines

The Presentation by the Petitioner’s representative(s) will be limited to 15 minutes. If it is difficult to fully explain a complex proposal orally within the time limit, it is recommended that the petitioner submit in advance to the Zoning Office written information that can be mailed to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors prior to their respective meetings.

A sign in sheet will be available and anyone desiring to speak must sign in.

Speakers representing a group will be allowed five minutes to speak if their presentation will reduce the number of persons to make public comment.

Subsequent speakers will be allowed a maximum of three minutes each and cannot allocate their time to another individual.

Speakers must come to the podium and give their name and address before making their remarks.

Speakers will be timed by a staff assistant and given notice when they have one minute left and when their time has expired. Upon notification, the speaker shall relinquish the podium and return to his or her seat.

Speakers are asked to not be repetitive and to ensure their remarks are relevant to the petition at hand.

When the public hearing is closed, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will deliberate on the agenda item, during which the public may remain present but will not be allowed to speak. Both bodies may ask questions of anyone in the audience in order to seek clarification of issues that were brought out at the hearing.